Bill Serra liked many forms of music; especially if his wife, daughters or son were singing/playing the pieces. Some of his favorite artists were Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, and the list goes on. Here is a playlist of a few songs that my father enjoyed. And, although I am not sure if he liked the song Hell Yeah by Neil Diamond, I believe it is fitting for his life.
О себе: On Monday, 4 June 2007 at 4:45 pm ET a University of Michigan Survival Flight plane piloted by Bill Serra and Dennis Hoyes carrying four members of the University of Michigan Transplant Team (David Ashburn, M.D., Richard Chenault II, Rick Lapensee, and Martin Spoor, M.D.) left Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee headed for Willow Run Airport near Ypsilanti, MI. Moments after take-off the Survival Flight plane crashed into Lake Michigan tragically killing all six men on board.
This page is dedicated in loving memory of Bill Serra as well as the other five men who were killed in the University of Michigan Survival Flight crash.
Included are: photographs of Bill Serra from his family photo albums, information for family and friend's regarding the Visitation and "Celebration of Life" Memorial for Bill Serra and the Memorial Trust Fund, and numerous links and resources for those who would like to help out and keep up to date on all that is happening.
Photos of Bill at work and with his family
Bill Serra and his daughter Jennifer
Я хочу найти: Resources and links:
To view information regarding the Memorial Services for the six courageous men who died in the crash of the University of Michigan Survival Flight plane please visit the link below:
To make a donation to the Memorial Funds of the six courageous men who died in the crash of the University of Michigan Survival Flight plane please read the posted information:
1. U-M Transplant Team Assistance Fund: The University of Michigan has established this fund to help the families of the six courageous men who devoted their lives to helping others. You can make a donation by downloading and mailing or faxing this PDF form or by calling 734-998-8851 or toll-free: 1-800-468-3482.
2. To make a direct donation to the Bill Serra Memorial Trust Fund please send a check or money order to the below address.
The money in the fund will be used to cover loss of wages, to help pay for living costs for Bill's family, and to help to pay for college expenses for Bill's children:
Bill Serra Memorial Trust Fund: P.O. Box 240, Washington, MI 48094-0240
To share your condolences/memories or read condolences/memories posted by others related to the crash University of Michigan Survival Flight visit the links below:
After the recovery effort of the plane has been completed a preliminary accident report will be posted on the National Transportaion Safety Board (NTSB) Web Site. At some point in the future a final accident report will be issued. Click HERE to view the June 2007 NTSB Aviation Accidents data base. The University of Michigan Survial Flight preliminary accident report should be added to it in the next few weeks (or months).
To view the timeline of events in the crash and to access news articles related to the crash University of Michigan Survival Flight visit the links below:
To read the official statements related to the University of Michigan Survival Flight crash from Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and United State Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) visit the links below:
Posted on revivehope.com by Steve on 14 June 2007...
We lost six heroes on Monday, June 4, 2007...
To some people it was just a plane that went down and six lives lost. But to many of us touched by organ donation, six heroes lost their lives on June 4th trying to save another life. When I heard the news last week, I immediately thought of the people who helped me – Seven years ago, they were on a plane between Chicago and Mason City, Iowa.
Whether we’re waiting or post-transplant, so many of us know our transplant teams: Our surgeons, our procurement coordinators, our nurses, our transplant coordinators and physicians. Some of us are lucky enough to meet the pilots who shuttle them to their destinations. For so many of them, their life’s work is to get us breathing, give us a steady heart beat, get us a new liver, or get us off dialysis. Their life’s work is to save our lives.
They don’t always choose this field of medicine – but sometimes they see the good they can do, and the service they can offer, and the lives they can impact. They may see an obligation to put their abilities to their best use, and their careers take this direction.
These people can be rousted from their comfortable lives at all hours of the day or night, and called upon to help others. They face incredible stress that every move they make over the next several hours has a life on the line miles from where they are – that any mistake or misstep could result in the death of that person, miles from where they are. Many people in this field do it for a number of years before they “burn out”, or they can no longer deal with the constant disruption in normal life.
They dedicate part of their lives to saving lives. They are called from their duties, their families, their passions to hop on a plane or emergency vehicle, with little consideration for their own risk, to help someone in need. And also to help another family – they help one family in crisis deliver the gift o
Your Dad and Mom both encouraged my family so much during their hard times.....Your dad will surely be missed you and your family will be in our hearts and Prayers always.....We love you!!!
Your Dad brought so much light to the worlds of so many people- and just think, tonight, he has the best seat in the house to share the amazing fireworks with God. Your family is in our prayers, always.
This message was received by the "In loving memory of Bill Serra" myspace page and I received permission to share it with all of you. It captures the essence of my father's patience, kindness, and love for educating and making young children comfortable around aviation and in everyday life.
Enjoy, Jenn Serra
I wanted to share a memory of your dad with you....
My name is Ginger Abidin. I work for Survival Flight in the communications center. My condolences to you and your entire family for your loss.
I want to share a memory of Bill with you.
When my son was 3, I was going to take him on his first plane ride. Knowing how uneasy my son can get sometimes with new things, I called out to Marlin Air and talked to Bill. He told me to bring my son out on my next day off, and that he would find someone to come in so they could take us up on a check ride with them. I was so pleased that he would go out of his way to do this.
When we got there, no one else could come in. But, Bill took the time out of his day to show a 3 year old little boy his first airplane up close. He patiently explained the cockpit, the wings, the engine, the tail, He told him how important it was for him to sit in his seat with his seatbelt on, and much more.
Bill assured me that he would do just fine on his first flight, and he was right.
What a remarkable man in life; ultimately he has left a wonderful legacy for everyone to learn from and to follow. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this difficult time...
Chrissy - my thoughts are with you and your family. I'm am so deeply sorry for your loss! Even though I never met your dad, this page is a touching memory of the kind of person he must have been!
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on his tombstone from the beginning ... to the end.
He noted that first came the date of his birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered the most was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time that he spent alive on earth and now only those who loved him know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars ... the house ... the cash.
What matters is how we live and love and how we spent our dash.
So think about this long and hard: are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real and always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile ... remembering that this special dash may only last awhile.
So when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?
